Members of Swear and Shake busy but happy without day jobs

Swear and Shake plays tonight at Isis Restaurant and Music Hall in
Asheville.

JESSICA LEHRMAN/SPECIAL

By JASON GILMERFor Halifax Media Service

Published: Friday, May 3, 2013 at 7:34 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, May 3, 2013 at 7:34 a.m.

During a seven-day span at the South by Southwest music festival, members of New York-based indie-folk rock outfit Swear and Shake played 11 times.

Facts

Want to go?

Who: Swear and Shake

When: 10 tonight

Where: Isis Restaurant and Music Hall, Asheville

Tickets: $8 in advance, $10 at door

Info: 828-575-2737,www.isisasheville.com

That would be hard enough, but it wasn't the most tiring part.

"We were absolutely exhausted by the end of it, if only from having to move the van over and over again," singer Kari Spieler wrote in an email. "There was always so much going on, but we still managed to have fun and give it our all. We did our best at every show not to take ourselves too seriously and just have a good time.

"As tiring and as stressful as it was some times, it beats a day job at Urban Outfitters."

Members of the band don't have time for 9-to-5 gigs as they are in the midst of a nine-city tour that will keep them on the road until May 10.

They'll play at 10 tonight at Isis Restaurant and Music Hall in Asheville and will also hit Nashville, Tenn., Atlanta, Charleston, S.C., and other cities before returning home.

Spieler, who also plays guitar, is joined on stage by Adam McHeffey (guitar, banjo, vocals), Shaun Savage (bass) and Ben Goldstein (drums). They've found a sound that mixes folk and indie rock with powerful vocals.

"It's a natural thing. Adam and I write the songs — Shaun and Ben bring it to life," Spieler said. "There's a lot of creativity and personality that goes into it. We write what moves us and don't hold back. We never stick to one theme or idea while we're writing. I think this is something that sets us apart from the other bands we get compared to."

They released "Maple Ridge" last summer with founding member Thomas Elefante on drums. Goldstein was the album's producer and joined after Elefante's departure.

The album, which is named after the barn in which the music was recorded, received positive reviews.

" ‘Maple Ridge' was an incredible production," Spieler said. "It far exceeded our expectations and was one of the greatest learning experiences I've ever had. There are a lot of techniques we experimented with in the barn, and we look forward to implementing them in our next recording."

Work hasn't stopped for the group as they recently recorded three new songs with plans to release them in the coming months and will soon shoot a video. They'll also be filming a video for the song "Brother" after this tour.

<p>During a seven-day span at the South by Southwest music festival, members of New York-based indie-folk rock outfit Swear and Shake played 11 times.</p><p>That would be hard enough, but it wasn't the most tiring part.</p><p>"We were absolutely exhausted by the end of it, if only from having to move the van over and over again," singer Kari Spieler wrote in an email. "There was always so much going on, but we still managed to have fun and give it our all. We did our best at every show not to take ourselves too seriously and just have a good time. </p><p>"As tiring and as stressful as it was some times, it beats a day job at Urban Outfitters."</p><p>Members of the band don't have time for 9-to-5 gigs as they are in the midst of a nine-city tour that will keep them on the road until May 10.</p><p>They'll play at 10 tonight at Isis Restaurant and Music Hall in Asheville and will also hit Nashville, Tenn., Atlanta, Charleston, S.C., and other cities before returning home.</p><p>Spieler, who also plays guitar, is joined on stage by Adam McHeffey (guitar, banjo, vocals), Shaun Savage (bass) and Ben Goldstein (drums). They've found a sound that mixes folk and indie rock with powerful vocals.</p><p>"It's a natural thing. Adam and I write the songs — Shaun and Ben bring it to life," Spieler said. "There's a lot of creativity and personality that goes into it. We write what moves us and don't hold back. We never stick to one theme or idea while we're writing. I think this is something that sets us apart from the other bands we get compared to."</p><p>They released "Maple Ridge" last summer with founding member Thomas Elefante on drums. Goldstein was the album's producer and joined after Elefante's departure.</p><p>The album, which is named after the barn in which the music was recorded, received positive reviews.</p><p>" 'Maple Ridge' was an incredible production," Spieler said. "It far exceeded our expectations and was one of the greatest learning experiences I've ever had. There are a lot of techniques we experimented with in the barn, and we look forward to implementing them in our next recording."</p><p>Work hasn't stopped for the group as they recently recorded three new songs with plans to release them in the coming months and will soon shoot a video. They'll also be filming a video for the song "Brother" after this tour.</p>